View source for Pearl Bailey

{{Short description|American actress and singer (1918–1990)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Pearl Bailey
| image = Pearl Bailey - publicity.jpg
| caption = Bailey {{Circa|1946}}
| birth_name = Pearl Mae Bailey
| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|3|29}}
| birth_place = [[Newport News, Virginia]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1990|8|17|1918|3|29}}
| death_place = [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, U.S.
| occupation = Actress, singer, comedian, author
| years_active = 1936–1989
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|John Randolph Pinkett|1948|1952}}
* {{marriage|[[Louie Bellson]]|1952}}
}}
| children = 2
}}

'''Pearl Mae Bailey''' (March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990) was an American actress, singer, comedian and author.<ref name="Larkin50">{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music|editor-first=Colin|editor-last=Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2002|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-937-0|pages=26/7|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref> After appearing in [[vaudeville]], she made her Broadway debut in ''[[St. Louis Woman]]'' in 1946.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicals101.com/who1.htm#Bailey|title=Who's Who in Musicals: A to Ba|website=Musicals101.com|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref> She received a [[Special Tony Award]] for the title role in the all-black production of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]''  in 1968. In 1986, she won a [[Daytime Emmy award]] for her performance as a fairy godmother in the [[ABC Afterschool Special]] ''Cindy Eller: A Modern Fairy Tale''. Her rendition of "[[Takes Two to Tango (song)|Takes Two to Tango]]" hit the top ten in 1952.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bergman |first=Peter J. |date=2021-06-30 |title=Two to Tango: Rashidra Scott plays Pearl Bailey in 'Ambassador of Love' |url=https://theberkshireedge.com/two-to-tango-rashidra-scott-plays-pearl-bailey-in-ambassador-of-love/ |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=The Berkshire Edge |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1976, she became the first African-American to receive the [[Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award]].<ref name=":0" /> She received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] on October 17, 1988.

== Early life ==
[[File:Portrait of Pearl Bailey, as Connecticut in Arms of the Girl LCCN2004662540.jpg|thumb|upright|Portrait of Pearl Bailey (1960)]]
Bailey was born in [[Newport News, Virginia|Newport News]], [[Virginia]]<ref name="Larkin50"/> to the Reverend Joseph James and Ella Mae Ricks Bailey.<ref name=PA/>  When she was very young, the family moved to Washington, DC. After her parents' divorce, Bailey moved to Philadelphia to live with her mother.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mehley |first1=Allyson |last2=Dipasquale |first2=Laura |date=2021-09-22 |title=Historic Spotlight: Pearl Bailey {{!}} Department of Planning and Development |url=https://www.phila.gov/2021-09-22-historic-spotlight-pearl-bailey/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=City of Philadelphia |language=en-US}}</ref>

Bailey made her stage-singing debut at the age of 15. Her brother [[Bill Bailey (dancer)|Bill Bailey]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Feser |first=Molly |date=2021-03-29 |title=Women's History Month: Pearl Bailey, singer, actress and icon |url=https://wydaily.com/news/local/2021/03/28/womens-history-month-pearl-bailey-singer-actress-and-icon/ |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=Williamsburg Yorktown Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> was beginning his own career as a tap dancer and suggested that she enter an amateur contest at the [[Pearl Theatre (Philadelphia)|Pearl Theatre]] in Philadelphia. Bailey won and was offered $35 a week to perform there for two weeks. However, the theater closed during her engagement and she was not paid.<ref name=PA>{{cite book|title=Pennsylvania Biographical Dictionary|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0HqhGvQF4CQC&pg=PA56|publisher=North American Book Dist LLC|isbn=978-0-403-09950-4|page=56|date=January 1, 1999|access-date=July 10, 2017}}</ref> She later won a similar competition at [[Harlem]]'s famous [[Apollo Theater]] and decided to pursue a career in entertainment. She was also known to have performed in the church choir at St Peter Claver Catholic Church in [[Brooklyn]], at the behest of Msgr [[Bernard J. Quinn]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quinn was 'quintessential priest' |url=https://www.irishecho.com/2021/6/quinn-was-quintessential-priest |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=Irish Echo Newspaper |language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Pearl Bailey ca 1960.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Pearl Bailey, {{circa}} 1960]]
Bailey began by singing and dancing in Philadelphia's black nightclubs in the 1930s, and soon started performing in other parts of the East Coast. In 1941, during World War II, Bailey toured the country with the [[USO]], performing for American troops. After the tour, she settled in New York. Her solo successes as a nightclub performer were followed by acts with entertainers such as [[Cab Calloway]] and [[Duke Ellington]]. In 1946, Bailey made her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut in ''[[St. Louis Woman]]''.<ref name=":2" /> For her performance, she won a Donaldson Award as the best Broadway newcomer. Bailey continued to tour and record albums along with her stage and screen performances. Early in the television medium, Bailey guest starred on CBS's ''[[Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town]]''.

[[File:PearlBailey-takes-a-call.jpg|thumb|upright|Bailey, costumed in the role of Butterfly, gauges the applause following her performance of the song "It's a Woman's Prerogative" on July 5, 1946. Sustained applause required her to take another bow.]]
Female impersonator [[Lynne Carter]] credited Bailey with launching his career.<ref>"Lynne Carter, Impersonator," ''New York Times'' (January 14, 1985), p. A16.</ref>

In 1967, Bailey and Cab Calloway headlined an all-black cast version of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' The touring version was so successful that producer [[David Merrick]] took it to Broadway, where it played to sold-out houses and revitalized the long-running musical. Bailey was given a special [[Tony Awards|Tony Award]] for her role, and [[RCA Victor]] released a second original-cast album, the only recording of the score to have an overture written especially for the recording.

[[File:Pearl Bailey Ed Sullivan Show 1968.JPG|thumb|upright|Bailey on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' performing "[[Before the Parade Passes By]]" during her run in ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' on [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] (1968)]]
A passionate fan of the [[New York Mets]], Bailey sang the national anthem at [[Shea Stadium]] prior to Game 5 of the [[1969 World Series]], and appears in the World Series [[1969 World Series Highlight Film|highlight film]] showing her support for the team. She also sang the national anthem prior to Game 1 of the [[1981 World Series]] between the [[New York Yankees]] and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]].

Bailey hosted her own variety series on ABC, ''[[The Pearl Bailey Show]]'' (January – May 1971), which featured many notable guests, including [[Lucille Ball]], [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Louis Armstrong]] (one of his last appearances before his death).<ref>{{Cite book|title=Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops|last=Hyatt, Wesley|publisher=McFarland & Co|year=2003|isbn=9781476605159|pages=199|oclc=606977128}}</ref>

Following her 1971 television series, she provided voices for animations such as ''[[Tubby the Tuba (1975 film)|Tubby the Tuba]]'' (1976) and Disney's ''[[The Fox and the Hound]]'' (1981). She returned to Broadway in 1975, playing the lead in an all-black production of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]''. In October 1975, she was invited by [[Betty Ford]] to sing for Egyptian president [[Anwar Sadat]] at a [[White House]] state dinner as part of [[Middle East|Mideast]] peace initiative.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/magazine-15036571|title=Playing the White House: Entertaining with the US president|work=BBC News|date=30 September 2011}}</ref>

She earned a degree in [[theology]] from [[Georgetown University]] in Washington, D.C., in 1985 at age 67.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Trescott |first=Jacqueline |date=1985-05-25 |title=Pearl Bailey, the Graduate |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/05/25/pearl-bailey-the-graduate/ed8e3af4-5aeb-4096-b6b6-c2a9330c2252/ |access-date=2022-06-18 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> It took her seven years to earn her degree.<ref name=":2" /> At Georgetown, she was a student of the philosopher [[Wilfrid Desan]].

Later in her career, Bailey was a fixture as a spokesperson in a series of [[Duncan Hines]] commercials, singing [[Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey|"Bill Bailey (Won't You Come Home)."]] She also appeared in commercials for [[Jell-O]],<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HjwT9VRyx8 Pearl Bailey] "Jell-O TV commercial</ref> [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation|Westinghouse]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gmZ2hs3_us Pearl Bailey] Westinghouse TV commercial</ref> and Paramount Chicken.

In her later years, Bailey wrote several books: ''The Raw Pearl'' (1968), ''Talking to Myself'' (1971), ''Pearl's Kitchen'' (1973) and ''Hurry Up America and Spit'' (1976). In 1975, she was appointed special ambassador to the United Nations by President [[Gerald Ford]], a position she held under three presidents.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McLellan |first=Joseph |date=1990-08-18 |title=Pearl Bailey, Delegate of Delight |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/08/18/pearl-bailey-delegate-of-delight/933fe7bd-8016-44d7-8147-6137f9280891/ |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JGvbjwEACAAJ |title=Women's International Center (WIC): Pearl Bailey |publisher=Women's International Center (WIC) |language=en}}</ref> In 1976, she won the [[Coretta Scott King Award]] for her children's book ''Duey's Tale''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coretta Scott King Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present {{!}} Coretta Scott King Roundtable |url=https://www.ala.org/cskbart/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present#1976 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=www.ala.org |language=en}}</ref> Her last book, ''Between You and Me'' (1989), details her experiences with higher education. On January 19, 1985, she appeared on a nationally televised broadcast gala the night before the second inauguration of [[Ronald Reagan]]. In 1988, Bailey received the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] from President Reagan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reagan |first=Ronald |date=October 17, 1988 |title=Remarks at the Presentation Ceremony for the Presidential Medal of Freedom |url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/remarks-presentation-ceremony-presidential-medal-freedom-4 |access-date=March 28, 2022 |website=Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Bailey went through a number of failed marriages in her earlier adult years. She married John Randolph Pinkett, either her third or fourth husband, when she was 30 years old, and divorced him four years later, accusing him of physical abuse.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Myrna |date=1990-08-18 |title=From the Archives: Entertainer Pearl Bailey, Enduring Star, Dies at 72 |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/archives/la-me-pearl-bailey-19900818-snap-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902032818/https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/archives/la-me-pearl-bailey-19900818-snap-story.html |archive-date=September 2, 2021 |access-date=2021-09-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Rivas">{{Cite web|last=Rivas|first=Aby|date=2021-06-12|title=Inside Pearl Bailey & Louie Bellson's Interracial Relationship despite His Father's Objection|url=https://news.amomama.com/264868-pearl-bailey-louie-bellson-wed-his-fathe.html|access-date=2021-09-04|website=news.amomama.com|language=en}}</ref>

On November 19, 1952, Bailey married jazz drummer [[Louie Bellson]] in London. They remained married until her death nearly 38 years later in 1990. Bellson was six years Bailey's junior and white. Interracial couples were rare at that time, and Bellson's father was reportedly opposed to the marriage because of Bailey's race.<ref name="Rivas"/>

They later adopted a son, Tony, in the mid-1950s. A daughter, Dee Dee Jean Bellson,<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Dee Dee Jean Bellson Obituary |url=https://www.hillandwood.com/obituaries/Dee-Dee-Jean-Bellson?obId=12139013}}</ref> was born April 20, 1960. Tony Bellson died in 2004. Dee Dee Bellson died on July 4, 2009, at the age of 49, five months after her father, who died on February 14.<ref name="DeeDeeObituary">{{cite web | last=Archives | first=L.A. Times | title=PASSINGS / Dee Dee Bellson | website=Los Angeles Times | date=20 July 2009 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jul-20-me-passings20.s3-story.html | access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref>

Bailey, a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], was appointed by President [[Richard Nixon]] as the nation's "Ambassador of Love" in 1970. She attended several meetings of the [[United Nations]] and later appeared in a campaign ad for President [[Gerald Ford]] in the [[1976 United States presidential election|1976 election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1976/pearl-bailey|title=The Living Room Candidate - Commercials - 1976 - Pearl Bailey|website=Livingroomcandidate.org|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref>

She was awarded the [[Bronze Medallion (New York City award)|Bronze Medallion]] in 1968, the highest award conferred upon civilians by New York City.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}}

Bailey was a close friend of actress [[Joan Crawford]].<ref name="news.google.com">{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19770518&id=RhJjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5334,3778086&hl=en|title=The Evening News – Google News Archive Search|website=News.google.com|access-date=2016-05-14}}</ref> In 1969, Crawford and Bailey joined fellow friend [[Gypsy Rose Lee]] in accepting a USO award. That same year, Bailey was recognized as USO's woman of the year.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=October 25, 1969|title=USO Award|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19691025&id=hnBYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5731,2574468&hl=en|journal=Spokane Daily Chronicle|access-date=May 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2211&dat=19690208&id=dxZKAAAAIBAJ&pg=3541,601322&hl=en|title=The Afro American - Google News Archive Search|website=News.google.com|access-date=2016-05-14}}</ref> Upon Crawford's death in May 1977, Bailey spoke of Crawford as her sister and sang a hymn at her funeral.<ref name="news.google.com"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xfjCtf9scpUC|title=Joan Crawford: Hollywood Martyr|last=Bret|first=David|date=2009-04-01|publisher=Da Capo Press|isbn=978-0786732364|language=en}}</ref> American socialite [[Perle Mesta]] was another of Bailey's close friends.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19680106&id=2r1YAAAAIBAJ&pg=2061,1296977&hl=en|title=The Spokesman-Review – Google News Archive Search|website=News.google.com|access-date=2016-05-14}}</ref> In the waning days of Mesta's life, Bailey visited Mesta frequently and sang hymns for her.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19740403&id=ynwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6961,3119029&hl=en|title=Lodi News-Sentinel – Google News Archive Search|website=News.google.com|access-date=2016-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19750322&id=1WVfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5415,4004018&hl=en|title=Observer-Reporter – Google News Archive Search|website=News.google.com|access-date=2016-05-14}}</ref>

==Death==
Bailey died at [[Thomas Jefferson University Hospital]] in Philadelphia on August 17, 1990.<ref name=":0" /> An autopsy confirmed the death was caused by the narrowing of a [[coronary artery]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arterial disease killed Pearl Bailey, doctor says |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/08/20/Arterial-disease-killed-Pearl-Bailey-doctor-says/4799651124800/ |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref>  Bailey had suffered from heart problems for over thirty years.<ref name=":0" />

Bailey is buried at Rolling Green Memorial Park in [[West Chester, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=1990-08-24 |title=Pearl Bailey's Love Is Remembered at Her Funeral |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/24/obituaries/pearl-bailey-s-love-is-remembered-at-her-funeral.html |access-date=2022-03-12 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Remembrances==
The television show ''[[American Dad!]]'' features [[List of American Dad! characters#Pearl Bailey High School|Pearl Bailey High School]]
.<ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YX_daEhlnbsC&q=American+Dad!+series&pg=PT220 |title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 Through 2010 – Vincent Terrace – Google Books |access-date=May 1, 2013|isbn=9780786486410|year=2011|last1=Terrace |first1=Vincent |publisher=McFarland }}</ref>

The 1969 song "We Got More Soul" by [[Dyke and the Blazers]] includes Bailey in its roster of icons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Dyke-The-Blazers/We-Got-More-Soul|title=Dyke & The Blazers - We Got More Soul Lyrics|website=Musixmatch.com|access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref>

A dress owned by Bailey is at the [[National Museum of African American History and Culture]].<ref name="blackfashion">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052101654.html|last=Givhan|first=Robin|title=Black Fashion Museum Collection Finds a Fine Home With Smithsonian|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 23, 2010|access-date=January 30, 2012}}</ref>

A library in her hometown of Newport News, Virginia, is named after her.<ref name=":1" />

==Performances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
'''Film'''
*''[[Variety Girl]]'' (1947) – Pearl Bailey – Singer
*''[[Isn't It Romantic (1948 film)|Isn't It Romantic]]'' (1948) – Addie
*''[[Carmen Jones (film)|Carmen Jones]]'' (1954) – Frankie
*''[[That Certain Feeling (film)|That Certain Feeling]]'' (1956) – Augusta aka Gussie
*''[[St. Louis Blues (1958 film)|St. Louis Blues]]'' (1958) – Aunt Hagar
*''[[Porgy and Bess (film)|Porgy and Bess]]'' (1959) – Maria
*''[[All the Fine Young Cannibals]]'' (1960) – Ruby
*''[[The Landlord]]'' (1970) – Marge
*''[[Tubby the Tuba (1975 film)|Tubby the Tuba]]'' (1975) – Mrs. Elephant (voice)
*''[[Norman... Is That You?]]'' (1976) – Beatrice Chambers
*''[[The Fox and the Hound]]'' (1981) – Big Mama – Owl (voice)

'''Television'''
*''[[The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom]]'' (prior to 1960) – Herself
*''[[The Andy Williams Show]]'' (1963) – Herself<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/jots.200013446/|title=THE ANDY WILLIAMS SHOW (1962/9)|website=Loc.gov}}</ref>
*''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' (1968) – Guest Star
*''Mike and Pearl'' (1968) – Herself
*''Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey: On Broadway'' (1969) – Herself
*''[[The Pearl Bailey Show]]'' (1971) <br />(midseason replacement series) – Herself – Host / Singer
*''[[The Carol Burnett Show]]'' (1972) – Guest Star
* ''One More Time'' (1974), a CBS musical comedy special<br />with [[Carol Channing]], [[George Burns]] and others – Herself<ref>[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/5/5d/20111025035939%21Pearl_Bailey_Carol_Channing_1973.JPG ''One More Time''] Press Release at Wikimedia Commons</ref>
*''[[The Love Boat]]'' (1977) – Millie Washington
*''All-Star Salute to Pearl Bailey'' (1979) – Herself
*''[[The Muppet Show]]'' (1979) – Herself
*''[[The Member of the Wedding]]'' (1982) – Bernice Sadie Brown
*''[[As the World Turns]]'' (cast member in 1982) – Herself
*''[[Peter Gunn]]'' (1989) (unsold pilot) – Mother (final television appearance)
{{Col-break}}
[[File:Pearl Bailey Nanette Fabray Arms and the Girl 1950.jpg|thumb|upright|Pearl Bailey and [[Nanette Fabray]] in the Broadway musical ''Arms and the Girl'' (1950)]]
[[File:Pearl Bailey Perry Como The Pearl Bailey Show 1971.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Perry Como]] and Pearl Bailey (1971)]]
'''Theater'''
*''[[St. Louis Woman]]'' (1946) (Broadway)
*''[[Arms and the Girl (musical)|Arms and the Girl]]'' (1950) (Broadway)
*''Bless You All'' (1950) (Broadway)
*''[[House of Flowers (musical)|House of Flowers]]'' (1954) (Broadway)
*''[[Les Poupées de Paris]]'' (1962) (Off-Broadway) (voice only)
*''[[Call Me Madam]]'' (1966) ([[Melodyland Christian Center|Melodyland Theater]])
*''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' (1967) <br/> (Broadway and US national tour)
*''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' (1975) (Broadway)
{{col-end}}

==Discography==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" |Year
! style="width:400px;" rowspan="2"| Single
! colspan="5"|Chart positions
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:40px;"| "US Retail Sales"
! style="width:40px;"| "US Disc Jockey" 
! style="width:40px;"| "US Juke Box" 
! style="width:40px;"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US<br />R&B]]
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1946
| style="text-align:left;"| "Fifteen Years (And I'm Still Serving Time)" <small>(with [[Mitchell Ayres]])</small>
| –
| –
| –
| 4
|-
|
|}
[[File:Pearl Bailey Carol Channing 1973.JPG|thumb|upright|With [[Carol Channing]] on a TV special ''One More Time'' (1974)]]
{{Div col}}
* ''Pearl Bailey Entertains'' (1950) and 1953
* ''Birth of the Blues'' (1952)
* ''Cultured Pearl'' (1952)
* ''I'm with You'' (1953)
* ''Say Si Si'' (1953)
* ''Around the World with Me'' (1954)
* ''Carmelina'' (1955)
* ''The Intoxicating Pearl Bailey'' (1956)
* ''The One and Only Pearl Bailey Sings'' (1956)
* ''Gems by Pearl Bailey'' (1958)
* ''Porgy & Bess'', original motion picture soundtrack (1959) (Grammy Award winner)
* ''Pearl Bailey A-Broad'' (1959)
* ''Pearl Bailey Sings for Adults Only'' (1959)
* ''Pearl Bailey Plus Margie Anderson Singing the Blues'' (1960?)
* ''More Songs for Adults Only'' (1960)
* ''For Adult Listening'' (1960)
* ''Naughty but Nice'' (1960)
* ''Songs of the Bad Old Days'' (1960)
* ''Pearl Bailey Sings the Songs of Harold Arlen'' (1961)
* ''Come On, Let's Play with Pearlie Mae'' (1962)
* ''Happy Sounds'' (1962)
* ''All About Good Little Girls and Bad Little Boys'' (1963)
* ''C'est La Vie'' (1963)
* ''[[Les Poupées de Paris]]'' (1964)
* ''Songs By James Van Heusen'' (1964)
* ''The Risque World of Pearl Bailey'' (1964)
* ''For Women Only'' (1965)
* ''The Jazz Singer'' (1965)
* ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' (1967 Broadway cast)
* ''After Hours'' (1969)
* ''Pearl's Pearls'' (1971)
{{div col end}}

==Bibliography==

*''The Raw Pearl'' (1968) (autobiography)
*''Talking to Myself'' (1971) (autobiography)
*''Pearl's Kitchen: An Extraordinary Cookbook'' (1973)
*''Duey's Tale'' (1975) (Photos and Design by [[Arnold Skolnick]])
*''Hurry Up America and Spit'' (1976)
*''Between You and Me: A Heartfelt Memoir on Learning, Loving, and Living'' (1989)

==See also==
* [[It takes two to tango]]
{{Portal|United States}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{IMDb name|0047440}}
*{{IBDB name}}
*{{TV Guide person}}
*[https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu023016 Pearl Bailey Collection] at the [[Library of Congress]]
*{{HABS |survey=PA-6684-A |id=pa3880 |title=1946 North Twenty-third Street (Pearl Bailey House), Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA |photos=2 |data=2 |cap=1}}
*[http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017/d/pacscl/SMREP_AAMPG95013 Pearl Bailey papers] from [https://www.aampmuseum.org/ African American Museum in Philadelphia]

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for Pearl Bailey
| list =
{{Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward LifeAchievement 1960–1979}}
{{Special Tony Award}}
}}
{{Virginia Women in History}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:People from Newport News, Virginia]]
[[Category:Singers from Virginia]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women writers]]
[[Category:Coretta Scott King Award winners]]